The French Revolution
- Causes: There were many problems that were occurring in France that mostly included the mistreatment of the bourgeoisie (common folk). There were three estates the clergy and nobility only took up 3% of the population while the bourgeoisie took up 97%. The two upper estates received many special privileges including not having to pay taxes. The bourgeoisie were upset with the upper classes including King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette because they felt they were being treated unfairly and that there needs were being ignored. The people were starving and had to steal to feed their family while the king and queen enjoyed lavish feasts. Also, France was in hard economic times. The rich had all the money while the bourgeoisie had none. France had no money because they had to finance the Seven Year War and helped finance the American Revolutionary War. There was not enough money to pay for the production of bread which was the main food eaten in France at the time. The ideas from the enlightenment caused the people to question authority and the government. This is when the people start to get violent and began to revolt.
- Actions: The bourgeoisie started getting angrier everyday. Max Robbespierre grew up as a part of the bourgeoisie but became an educated lawyer. He really wanted to defend the lower class by taking the ideas of the enlightenment and applying them to the Revolution. At first the bourgeoisie had asked the King if the two upper estates could pay taxes to make it fair. The King rejected this proposal so they developed the Tennis Court Oath saying that they would not stop meeting and planning a revolt unless a new constitution was put into place. On July 14, 1789 the bourgeoisie stormed the Bastille and stole gunpowder and went on to kill the guards and carry their heads around on a stick. They later formed the National Assembly, which lead the country while the King and Queen were executed using the Guillotin. a killing device very popular at the time.
- Outcomes: Before the French Revolution, The Bourgeoisie, or the middle class were being mistreated, and they wanted to overthrow the government. The French Revolution caused negative relations with some European countries like Austria and Prussia. The alliance between France, and the new country of the United States was forever damaged. After the French Revolution, class distinctions were abolished. The idea of slavery was destroyed in France, and every man is considered equal in France. The idea that their would be no slavery in the 1700's was revolutionary in its self. People of France gained rights, such as freedom of the press.
- Charles Dickens
- Lived in England during the Victorian Era
- Real name is Charles John Huffman Dickens
- Born Febuary 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
- Died June 9, 1870 from cerebral hemorrhages
- As a child he was exposed to the arts and fell in love with literature
- Eventually, due to lack of paying debts, John Dickens (Charles’s Father) was imprisoned
- All of his family joined him except Charles, who was forced to work in a factory to support his family at the age of twelve
- Due to his father’s debt, Charles was forced to drop out of school and support his family
- Dickens was exposed to many hardships after leaving school
- While working and living in the world, Charles met many people that he based his characters off of such as David Copperfield, Phillip Pirrip, and Oliver Twist.
- Went under the pen name Boz early on in writing career
- Published his first book Sketches by Boz in 1836, also married his wife in the same year, and eventually produced 10 children
- This began Dickens’ career as a writer and between 1837-1848, he produced 9 books including a Christmas Carol (1843) and Oliver Twist (1838)
- All of his works are still in print, and more than 180 movies and plays have been based on his writings.